The Engen Maths and Science Schools (EMSS) matric class of 2022 achieved flying colours with a record breaking 96.7% pass rate of which 72% achieved bachelor passes.  This despite learners being hit with over 200 days of power cuts and being the hardest hit by the pandemic when it broke in their Grade 10 year. 

Engen held an awards ceremony on the 18th February, 2023 at Zakarriya High School to honour Grade 10-12 learners and name the top Engen Maths and Science School (EMSS) achievers in Gauteng.

Engen’s manager of Transformation and Stakeholder Engagement, Dr James Nyawera explains that the EMSS programme focuses specifically on providing extra tuition in “gateway” subjects such as mathematics and science; subjects which are considered critical in addressing the country’s technical and engineering skills shortage as well as spurring economic growth and development. 

“While Engen is extremely proud of all the 2022 matriculants, I must make special mention of, and commend the incredible results attained by some of our top achievers from our Durban EMSS Centres,” says Nyawera.

In first place, Mandisa Lerato Penelope Booi from Orange Farm achieved an impressive 4 distinctions for matric, including 92% for mathematics and 90% for science. An alumnus of Leshata Secondary School in Orange Farm, Mandisa harbours dreams of qualifying as an Actuary in the future but is taking a gap year in 2023 to spend time tutoring learners from her school. 

Kamva Thelelo who took second place scored 83% for mathematics and 81 for science.  In third place Nhlamulo Euguene Chauke from Palm Springs, an alumnus of Leshata Secondary School in Orange Farm is studying Biotechnology at the University of the Western Cape this year. 

Princess Lefetsisang Malatji, from Orange Farm, achieved a distinction for mathematics and is studying a BEng. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Johannesburg this year.

Nyawera explains that the EMSS programme focuses specifically on providing extra tuition in “gateway” subjects such as mathematics and science.

“These subjects are considered critical in addressing the country’s technical and engineering skills shortage as well as spurring economic growth and development,” says Nyawera. 

“The EMSS programme seeks to harness the potential of talented young people in difficult circumstances and to also contribute to the pool of scarce skills in the country,” he adds.

The EMSS programme’s crucial role and relevance was highlighted after recent statistics from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) indicated that more learners are opting to write maths literacy, which increased by 108 642 learners between 2020 and 2022 compared to pure maths, which only increased by 36 419 learners over that time.  

Pupils who passed pure maths also dipped from 57.6% in 2021 to 55% in 2022.

Engen will host a series of awards ceremonies in February at the various EMSS centres across South Africa where the programme’s Grade 10-12 learners will be honoured, and the top achievers named.

These centres include Cape Town (classes are held at Belgravia and Manzombotho High), Port Elizabeth, East London, Cala and Johannesburg, and in KwaZulu-Natal where classes sit at Fairvale High School, Ganges High School, Hillview High School and Umlazi Commercial High School.

“Starting off in the late 1980’s as Engen Saturday Schools, EMSS remains central to Engen’s efforts to contribute to the growth and transformation of South Africa,” continues Nyawera. 

“The programme has worked tirelessly to help transform young underprivileged people’s lives, with a focus of creating a diverse and vibrant workforce.”

Engen is incredibly proud of all EMSS learners who completed matric in 2022, often despite extremely trying circumstances.